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Self-Awareness with the Enneagram & Solo Backpacking

I’ve been hearing a lot about the value of self-awareness recently. More than just knowing what your “strengths and weaknesses” are, it also means that I’m doing the work to know what makes me tick, what stresses me out, and where I go for validation.

Doing the work of knowing yourself is one of the toughest practices we can undertake in life. It requires a lot of self-awareness, discipline, and being comfortable with discomfort.

One of the ways I’m doing the work is with the Enneagram, an ancient model of looking inward so we can project more life outward. In the video linked below, I talk about it at the beginning and then at the 4:48 mark. If you haven’t heard of the Enneagram, this short article is a great primer. I’m a 3, the Performer, if you want to read all about what makes me go 😀

Another way I practice this is by spending time alone in the wilderness. Being outside in a remote and wild place takes away all of the ways I try to impress and achieve. The wild does not care about subscribers, salaries, and social media likes. It even takes away the need to impress those closest to me.

One of the biggest things I can struggle with is truly knowing what matters to me, and not just what I think people want to see. Being alone in a wild place strips away all of those things.

I was actually sitting in a Boise parking lot, right before I was supposed to drive out to the Sawtooth Mountains, looking up flights to go back to Nashville early! Thankfully they were way too expensive, but it showed me the lengths I was willing to go to in order to escape myself.

If you’re up for it, I’d love to know what personal work you’re doing to know more about yourself and what pushes you. Just go to the YouTube comments and let me know there!

Video bonus! ConvertKit also held our third team retreat in McCall, Idaho in August. I love being able to connect with my coworkers face to face during these weeks, it’s so important for remote teams to do that. Retreats don’t need to be fancy or luxurious, what matters is time spent together. There’s a quick look at our latest in the video!